Sandy's financial support

Sandra Lynn Maier, age 57, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1998 when she was 38. The news was devastating. Her right leg was one of the areas affected by the MS symptoms. Once an avid runner as part of her exercise regime, she struggled to continue. Eventually she had to give up running. With the aid of a walker she would do aerobic exercise daily, and did this religiously until that also became too difficult to do. The MS caused problems with her right hip and she would need surgery and hip replacement. Despite this setback, she never gave up with doing some kind of exercise. At least two or three times per week you could find her exercising while watching videos of disabled people doing a variety of exercises.

Eventually she would be resigned to living life in a wheel chair. Still, she would find videos of people exercising in wheel chairs. There you would find her, in front of the tv, exercising for up to an hour a day.

In 2014 the Wisconsin MS Foundation bought Sandra a recumbent tricycle. This bike gave her the freedom and independence she missed. She took advantage of by riding her bike everyday, even riding it during the winter when practical. She participated in Bike MS: TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Ride in 2015-16-17. Shortly after starting the ride in 2017 she had to stop as a result of still another physical problem. Her hip replacement had caused nerve damage in her affected leg. The muscles on the inner side of her leg were stronger than the muscles on the outer side. The result, those inner muscles would pull, or twist her food in and up. Different medical ideas were used to correct the problem. At first a series of exercises were used and then an expensive brace was created. Botox treatments. Nothing worked. Worst of all she could no longer ride her bike. Her foot being so twisted could not pedal the bike.

All she wanted to do was have the ability to walk again, but now she was also unable to ride her bike, or even doing something as simple as getting in and out or bed. After meeting with doctors and staff of UW Hospital, Madison, WI a decision was made to amputate her leg below the knee and fit her with a prosthetic.

Her surgery is scheduled for October 11th this year at UW Hospital, Madison, WI. She will be off work for at least six weeks. Insurance should cover the medical costs, and she will receive benefits from Aflac but there will be other expenses not covered.